Student Opinion Column: Dying Arts
Launch the media gallery 1 playerTechnology is everywhere, and in nearly everything we do. A lot of tasks these days are simply “push button” jobs. This makes our life much easier, but we seem to overlook that, although technology is great, we are losing out on a lot.
Most Americans today have memories of going to Grandma’s house when they are young and watching her sew or peel potatoes or something of the sort. The thing that worries me is that in 50 years, I question how many Americans will have these same memories.
As each new generation becomes more and more addicted to their phones and TV, they forget to make the time to learn these things. By the time kids grow up and graduate, they’re even busier with jobs and the real world, and by that time it is usually too late. I think that it is extremely important for kids to be able to do the simple things in life while they’re young.
So many kids do sports these days, which is great, but that leaves less kids in the arts. There are hardly any kids around anymore who have time for sewing, crocheting, woodworking, gardening, writing, leatherworking, baking, embroidering, calligraphy, painting and anything in general that involves working with our mind and hands.
I’m so thankful for organizations like 4-H that get kids involved with arts and give them opportunities to meet other kids like them. Through 4-H I have been able to learn many of these dying arts, along with having fun and meeting new people.
Anything homemade is worth so much more than something bought. To me, it’s heartbreaking to see these crafts and skills that people have been doing for generations becoming relics of the past.
So, the next time you’re looking for something new to do, I encourage you to turn towards one of the “forgotten” arts. You might not always have the opportunity to learn.